History Main / RageAgainstTheLegalSystem

* The vigilantes in ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' reach this point when a corrupt federal judge cracks down on their hitherto successful efforts to smoke out the drug dealers and gangsters infesting their neighborhoods. Their revolution begins by tarring and feathering the malefactor.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', Korra does this when her father is found guilty of high treason. Her first reaction is to threaten the judge's life ''[[SmugSuper in the courthouse]]''--and then, to kidnap him and threaten to feed him to [[CanisMajor Naga]]. (The judge is corrupt, and so kind of deserves it, but she doesn't know that, at least not at first. And it does not make her look very good to the courtroom audience any which way.)

* The first game of the ''VideoGame/PoliceQuest'' series has the BigBad Jessie Bains arrested and found guilty of murders and drug dealing. This leads to the sequel, where Jessie escapes prison in order to get his {{revenge|OfTheSequel}} on the witnesses who testified against him, and the PlayerCharacter Sonny Bonds, the cop who busted him.

[[folder:Film]]

* ''WesternAnimation/LaBalladeDesDalton'': Henry Dalton wants his nephews to kill the judge and the jury who convicted him.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', a number of jailed criminals try to avenge themselves on the [[InPrisonWithTheRogues recently-imprisoned Rorschach]]. [[UnderestimatingBadassery It doesn't go well.]]

This can be TruthInTelevision. It ''might'' potentially be considered justifiable in-universe if [[DirtyCop the authorities are corrupt or outright evil]] and have [[FrameUp framed the protagonist for a crime he did not commit]], especially if they serve [[TheEmpire a tyrannical and oppressive regime]]. However, invoking this trope is considered a MoralEventHorizon in the eyes of the law and society. Under almost any system of government, crimes against officers and officials of the legal system are punished harshly, and penalties can go UpToEleven if they were motivated by revenge. Even where the perpetrator is innocent or [[DrivenToVillainy actually has an excuse]] for what he does, acting like this will typically result in viewers considering him an AntiHero at best.

* The ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "To Love and Die in Dixie" has a robber breaking out of prison, namely to target Chris Griffin whose testimony put the robber away. He didn't originally know Chris was the one who identified him, until [[BumblingDad Peter]] accidentally stumbled into the suspect lineup room looking for Chris, [[UpToEleven and ended up giving the robber a photo of Chris with his school schedule and a list of all of his fears written on the back.]]

* A [=DirecTV=] advertisement claims that having cable TV will eventually lead to your house blowing up (in their bizarre [[RubeGoldbergMachine Rube Goldberg-esque]] logic: you're a lawyer, not having good reception will cause you to go to work irritated, you'll lose your case, the guy that goes to prison will dwell on getting even with you when he gets out...).

* In an episode of ''Series/TheXFiles'', a convict is executed, then returns as a spirit (or something) to take revenge on the witnesses/lawyers/judge/prison staff/executioner.

** In ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice'', the Kingdom of Khura'in faces an outright CivilWar, courtesy of a LaResistance group that justifiably takes umbrage to the "Defense Culpability Act" -- which, in the event of a guilty verdict, forces the defense attorney to share his/her client's fate... and has resulted in ThePurge for over two decades. [[spoiler:It turns out that the current Queen herself is responsible for said law -- as an EvilIsPetty way of concealing her own MiscarriageOfJustice against both the former Queen and her lover (a defense attorney, no less).]]

* The ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "To Love and Die in Dixie" has a robber breaking out of prison, namely to target Chris Griffin whose testimony put the robber away.
** In "One If By Clam, Two If By Sea", when Peter and friends end up in prison for a {{frameup}}, one of the inmates Joe arrested intends to kill all four of them.

This can be TruthInTelevision. It ''might'' potentially be justifiable if [[DirtyCop the authorities are corrupt or outright evil]] and have [[FrameUp framed the protagonist for a crime he did not commit]], especially if they serve [[TheEmpire a tyrannical and oppressive regime]]. However, invoking this trope is considered a MoralEventHorizon in the eyes of the law and society. Under almost any system of government, crimes against officers and officials of the legal system are punished harshly, and penalties can go UpToEleven if they were motivated by revenge. Even where the perpetrator is innocent or [[DrivenToVillainy actually has an excuse]] for what he does, acting like this will typically result in viewers considering him an AntiHero at best.

This can be TruthInTelevision. It ''might'' potentially be justifiable [[DirtyCop if the authorities are corrupt or outright evil]], or if they serve [[TheEmpire a tyrannical and oppressive regime]]. However, invoking this trope is considered a MoralEventHorizon in the eyes of the law and society. Under almost any system of government, crimes against officers and officials of the legal system are punished harshly, and penalties can go UpToEleven if they were motivated by revenge. Even where the perpetrator [[DrivenToVillainy actually has an excuse]] for what he does, acting like this will typically result in viewers considering him an AntiHero at best.

* In one episode of ''Series/TheRedGreenShow'', Possum Lodge member and reformed criminal Mike Hamar is trying to hide from a fellow criminal, Big Al Finkelman, whom he had ratted out and got sent to prison, but who had just gotten released and is now coming for him. It so happens that the lodge is putting on a masquerade picnic and marathon, where people dress up in costumes, so Mike tries on various costumes, ultimately disguising himself as Red Green himself, but Big Al sees through the disguise. Big Al then runs into the real Red, [[MistakingForAnImpostor thinking he's Mike]]. Red hastily feels around for his driver's license to prove his identity, but he can't find his wallet. Big Al accepts this as proof that he isn't [[StickyFingers Mike]] and leaves.